[hauntcrazy]

I have to mention something that I have learned from doing this for almost 10 years now.
When I first started, I didnt have that many props.
Now I take up an entire storage room and another shed.
Keep inventory!!!!
I am starting on new props and I have discovered that I am missing stuff.
I use rubber made tubs to store stuff.
This year I am going to get stick on labels and write down everything that is in the tub. It is going to take more time storing stuff away but right now I am suffering because I have no idea where things are. I have about 30 tubs and it is a pain to look through all of them for one mask.
Just venting!!!!!

 

[shadowopal]

Simple way is to number your totes. Take a pic of the number then take pics of everything in the tote. Download the pics and you can print out sheets with all the pics or if you have a laptop just have the pics there and you can just browse your pics to find the tote it's in. We actually glued clear sheet protectors onto our totes and put the print out sheets in the protectors so we can remember what goes in the tote when putting away. Now that we have a laptop, I'll just look up the pic by name on the laptop and find the folder it's in (folders are named by tote number).

 

[hauntcrazy]

Great idea.
I am also finding that humidity has taken a toll on some of my props from previous years. Might have to do some repair work this year.

 

[zacharybinx]

I also use the Rubbermaid totes to store stuff. I use wide masking tape on the outside to write down what's inside. It helps out a lot as I start my build. The first year I didn't and got really frustrated looking through totes to find stuff. I totally understand.

 

[Frankie's Girl]

I label my totes and boxes, but I've got to start keeping a detailed inventory or something, because I still can't find exactly what I want when I'm looking for it...

 

[MadDog]

My problem is that I am making tombstones that I have already made. Inventoring is a great idea.

 

[Ghost of Spookie]

I agree that it's important to start some kind of organized storage plan. We've only had a house for a few years now and that's pretty much when I started on Halloween and already it's getting unwieldy. I'm in this process right now of inventorying. Halloween all over my living room and dining room. Storage bins everywhere. Driving my non-halloween husband up the wall. I'll be doing something very similar with camera, computer and printouts. Recently bought several large binders that I can put prop ideas into, haunt scene plans and probably my inventory list also so I have a hard copy it (I still find it advantageous sometimes to lay in bed and look through printed material). Binder pages (with reinforced circles) can easily be reorganized also. I use a Mac, and iPhoto is a great tool for organizing albums of photos and doing printouts. The iPhone works seamlessly with it to import photos. This has all been a real boost for me since I'm looking for easy solutions and don't want to fuss.

For props like rats and crows, I'm finding it easier to store them in Sterilite (prefer over Rubbermaid storage) under-the-bed long containers so that they are pretty much one animal deep and easy to see. We recently bought four giant tubs on wheels to store items that aren't super heavy. We live in an area where we get close to freezing and summers reach 90s and 100s, but at least pretty low in moisture. I feel for those that have to contend with that also. I'm going to try to keep all my latex props stored inside the house somewhere in closets so at least the temp range doesn't fluctuate that severely. Thankfully we have a double garage for our cars and a single garage that was billed as a work area (hard to turn the car to drive it in). That's where my gargoyle, tombstones and a lot of my storage stuff will go along with lighting.

 

[halloweenbarb]

INVENTORY!!! why didn t I think of that. lol

 

[Deadna]

I had planned on taking my 30+tubs out into the backyard and sorting things out into catagories such as all skulls in one tub,dishes in another..etc... but I'm afraid of what might crawl into the items as they are laying around in the yard. I get freaked every year just running across a spider ring that was loose in the bottom of a tub...LOL!

 

[fritz42_male]

At least your spiders probably aren't poisonous - ours are killers!

 

[theedwin]

Well, I try to keep an inventory of my stuff, but every time I need something, I grab it and forget to take it off the list. (bad me!!!) so when I look for something again, I look at the list and find the box, but it's not there because I forgot to inventory it again.... and it is in some other box somewhere...

Now, if it were spread around the house (err, apartment) I would know exactly where it is, but my mind can't keep up with 20 some boxes for some reason....

On the plus side, I am sure I will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of stuff that I have when I finally pull it all out!

 

[billman]

pics are great for your inventory...quick scan to check. Also, I have a ton of boxes of stuff. I print off pics arrange like Big Lots shelf guide and tape to the boxes.

 

[Frankie's Girl]

On the plus side, I am sure I will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of stuff that I have when I finally pull it all out!

Oh, yes. I'm constantly surprised at the stuff I have. I forget the stuff bought in the after sales, and it's like opening presents at Christmas... oops.

pics are great for your inventory...quick scan to check. Also, I have a ton of boxes of stuff. I print off pics arrange like Big Lots shelf guide and tape to the boxes.

That is smart! I think I'll try that this year.